Contact: Emily Joki, Preaching Magazine, 800-527-5226; Denise Davis, Salem Communications, 805-987-0400 ext. 1081, Denised@salem.cc

CAMBRIDGE, U.K., Jan. 29 /Christian Newswire/ -- The third International Congress on Preaching is scheduled for April 17-19, 2007, in the historic English city of Cambridge. The three day conference will draw ministers from throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as from the United Kingdom, Australia, and a host of other nations. The Congress is sponsored by Preaching magazine, a professional journal for ministers, and Salem Communications (NASDAQ:SALM).

Among the featured speakers are Bishop N.T. Wright, the bishop of Durham and one of the most popular Christian authors of recent years; David Jeremiah, senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in San Diego and speaker for the national broadcast “Turning Point;” Calvin Miller, professor of preaching at Beeson Divinity School and best-selling author; and Alister McGrath, Oxford University professor and prolific author in the area of theology and science.

Other scheduled speakers include: Dave Stone, senior pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky., one of the nation’s ten-largest congregations; J. Alfred Smith, senior pastor of Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland, Calif.; Michael Milton, senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga, Tenn.; Michael Quicke, professor of preaching at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, Ill.; Robert Smith, professor of preaching at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Ala.; John A. Huffman, senior pastor of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, Calif.; plus more than a dozen additional speakers and workshop leaders. A complete list of speakers is available at www.preaching.com/icop.

A number of ministers from Great Britain and Australia will be on the program, including Wright and McGrath; David Jackman of Proclamation Trust; Steve Chalke, founder of the Oasis Trust and senior pastor of Christ Church, London; and Gordon Moyes of Wesley Mission, the largest evangelical congregation in Australia.

The Congress theme is "For Such a Time as This: Preaching Truth in an Age of Idolatry." The program will feature plenary addresses related to the theme, a series of sermons, plus more than 20 practical workshops on a variety of preaching related themes. General Sessions will be held at St. Andrews Street Baptist Church in Cambridge, with workshops at several Cambridge University campus venues.

The Cambridge event will be the third such Congress. The first International Congress on Preaching was held in April 1997 at London's Westminster Chapel, with the second at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland’s capital city. Congress organizers are expecting more than 500 participants in Cambridge.

“The Congress will be a time of inspiration, ideas and encouragement for those who have been called to preach God's Word,” says Dr. Michael Duduit, Congress director and editor of Preaching magazine. “In a postmodern age when men and women give their allegiance and worship to all manner of false gods – from ancient paganism to contemporary consumerism – there has never been a time when biblical preaching was more vital. The Congress will feature a powerful team of outstanding preachers and teachers who will offer insights and encouragement for effective preaching within the challenging context of 21st century western culture.”

Cost of registration will be $250 per person for the three day event, with an early registration rate of $195 available until March 1. Information is available at the Congress web site: www.preaching.com/icop, or by sending an email to: ncp@preaching.com.